Hunter Biden signaled he is considering running for president in 2028 just weeks after he dismissed the idea.
Speaking with radio host John Catsimatidis, Biden said he “may have to” run for the White House if he gets Catsimatidis’s endorsement. The comment appeared to be a joke, considering Catsimatidis is a conservative donor and an ally of President Donald Trump.
Still, Biden could be entertaining the prospect of following in his father’s footsteps with a 2028 presidential campaign.
In an Aug. 21 interview with late-night show host Bill Maher, the younger Biden suggested he would be struggling with his addictions if he ever decided to run for president.
“No, I haven’t [thought of running],” he said on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher. “Here’s my thing — if I announce for president, then somebody should check and see if I relapsed.”
Biden has been open about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction with the release of his 2021 memoir, Beautiful Things. He recently celebrated seven years of sobriety.
The 56-year-old was once the prime subject of the infamous laptop scandal that broke one month before the 2020 election, which resulted in a win for former President Joe Biden. The laptop’s contents detailed the extent of the son’s drug use, firearm possession, and tax problems.
Hunter Biden was later put on trial for federal gun and tax offense charges. However, his father gave him a full and unconditional presidential pardon covering all federal offenses he allegedly committed between 2014 and 2024.
While critics have pointed to his past legal troubles as disqualifying for higher office, the former first son emphasized adherence to the legal system as his core prerequisite for being elected president.
“Here is my qualification for becoming president, if you believe in the Constitution of the United States of America that you swear to uphold and protect. I want the next president to commit to one thing: To adhering to the rule of law,” he told Catsimatidis.
In the event he becomes president, Hunter Biden indicated he would want to help people who have struggled with various types of addictions like him.
“The things I care most about is the 50 million Americans that are still suffering with their addictions,” he said.
‘WHERE’S HUNTER?’: HUNTER BIDEN LAUNCHES SUBSTACK COLUMN
Regardless of whether he decides to run for president in the next two years, Hunter Biden said the Democratic Party has an “incredible bench” of possible candidates. He mentioned Govs. Andy Beshear (D-KY) and JB Pritzker (D-IL), before saying he personally loves Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), who is among the party’s top choices for a hypothetical 2028 presidential run.
No candidates on either side of the aisle have announced presidential campaigns leading up to the midterm elections.